San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: Carrying the Voices of IBC Patients to San Antonio

SABCS week is almost here! I’m packing my bags for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, gathering my notes for the largest breast cancer conference in the world, getting all of my chargers locked and loaded, and getting ready to represent The IBC Network Foundation as both a writer and an advocate.

This isn’t just another conference. SABCS is where the newest research, clinical trials, and treatment breakthroughs make their debut. It’s where experts from all over the world compare notes, challenge ideas, and help shape what breast cancer care will look like in the year ahead. And for a disease as aggressive and often overlooked as inflammatory breast cancer, showing up truly matters.

San Antonio-bound, baby!

Why SABCS Matters for the IBC Community

IBC doesn’t behave like most breast cancers. It doesn’t always form a lump. It moves fast. It’s frequently misdiagnosed. And it has long been underrepresented in research. So when thousands of oncologists, scientists, and advocates are under one roof, it’s an opportunity to learn and to make sure IBC isn’t lost in the noise.

My hope for this year is simple: shine the spotlight on IBC wherever the conversation is and bring clarity to patients who are looking for answers.

My Goals Going Into the Conference

I’m approaching SABCS with a clear plan and a wide-open notebook. Here’s what I hope to accomplish:

• Identify and highlight research with relevance to IBC, whether it’s buried in a poster session or presented on the main stage.

• Connect with researchers and advocates who are pushing for better diagnostics, better treatments, and better trial inclusion.

• Translate complex data into patient-friendly information that empowers families facing an IBC diagnosis.

• Amplify patient voices, because research isn’t meaningful unless it reaches the people who need it most.

This work is about bridging the gap from the lab bench to the bedside and from the scientific language of abstracts to real-world clarity for patients.

What I’m Watching for This Year

Glancing at the agenda, several themes immediately stand out:

• New approaches to aggressive breast cancers, especially work involving inflammation-driven pathways.

• HER2-low, triple-negative, and immunotherapy updates, which all intersect with how we think about IBC treatment.

• Clinical trial opportunities and limitations, particularly where rare subtypes are underrepresented.

• Survivorship, quality-of-life, and psychosocial research, which are vital but often overlooked.

• Any innovation in early detection, given the challenge of diagnosing IBC before it has progressed.
  

IBC often exists outside the “traditional breast cancer story,” so I’m tuned in for anything that expands the way we recognize, classify, or treat aggressive disease.

Preparing as Both Writer and Advocate

I’ve been reviewing abstracts, highlighting sessions that might have IBC implications, and building daily templates so I can publish quick, clear recaps. I’ve got my questions ready for researchers - especially around diagnostic gaps and how we can better design clinical trials for rare diseases.

And, of course, I’m coordinating with The IBC Network Foundation to ensure I’m capturing content that serves patients, caregivers, and clinicians who rely on us to translate this science.

What’s in My Suitcase

I’ve been warned that this is a busy, busy, busy conference so I’m packing for a marathon!

• Comfortable shoes

• Laptop, chargers, backup batteries, and a backup for my backup

• A notebook and highlighters (because color-coding is my life)

• Snacks

• Educational materials from The IBC Network Foundation to share with other attendees

It may seem simple, but these little things add up when you’re moving from session to session absorbing a firehose of information.

How You Can Follow Along

I’ll be posting updates every day that I’m there:

• Daily takeaways

• Patient-centered summaries

• Research highlights

• Advocacy insights

• Interviews or quotes when possible

You’ll see these on Substack and the Sweet Tea & Science blog, with more detailed follow-up articles after the conference. If there’s a question or topic you want me to explore while I’m there, please feel free to reach out.

Why This Work Matters

Inflammatory breast cancer may be rare, but its impact is profound. Too many women (and men) are diagnosed late, misunderstood, or overlooked by systems not built for rare diseases. This is why advocacy is so incredibly important!

I am honored to carry the voices of IBC patients and survivors with me to San Antonio. Your stories, your strength, and your urgency shape every question I ask and every article I write.

Here’s to learning, connecting, and pushing for better. In the words of Terry Arnold, the founder of The IBC Network Foundation – Hope Always.